Bomb for use with aeroplanes and other flying-machines.



H. S. MAXIM. BOMB FOR USE WITH AEROPLANES AND OTHER FLYING MACHINES.

APPLIQATION FILED JULY 14, 1913.

Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

A than? HIRAFI :S'EEVENS MIME, OF STREATHAM, Lt'HIDON, ENGLAND, ASSIG-NQR TE? VIGKEEZS LIMITED, (335 'lUESTlJIINSTER, ENGLANI).

BUMB 321333, USE WITH AEEOPL-iiNES GTHER FLYING-JHAGHZNES.

aoaaaea original applieaticiza filled March 215, 1912, Serial No. 6%,6132.

To all "whom it concern Be it Known that l, ltlmAM STEVENS MAXIM, a subject of the riing of Great Britain, residingat 382 High road, Sandhurst Lodge, S reatham in the county of London, England, formerly of Ryecotes, Dulwich Common, in the county of London aforesaid, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Bombs ii I Usegwith Aeroplanes and other Flying lhachines, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to bombs appiicaole for use with aeroplanes or flying machines or balloons and particularly to bombs of the character in which a detonating charge is retainedin a position remote from the main charge until the bomb is discharged or released.

In connection with the'use of bombs it is essential for effective working that the explosion take place so as to afford the highest degree of destruction whether of life or property, as earth works, i'orts or other erections. It is therefore desirable that some amount of control be possible with regard to the bomb.

According to this invention the bomb is' object or target and prior to the firing of the main charge which is arranged totake place in the most favorable position for performing effective work. I

In carrying out the invention the initial impact of the bomb causes the explosion of a predetermined charge of black powder or similar explosive whereby the bomb is caused to rebound from the ground, object or target prior to the explosion of the detonating and main charges at a predetermined distanoe above ,or fromthe ground, object or target. The; distance from the ground, object ortarget at which the explosion of the main charge will take place will depend upon the. strength of the explosive charge or the likerwhereby the rebounding of the bomb-is efi'ected aftertit has struckf'the Specification er Patented Nov. 1 it 11933.,

Divided and this application filed July M,

Serial I i-Yo.

ground, object or target. The shell or casing of the bomb may in the usual manner, he formed'or provided with grooves; a load ing of metal fragments or balls or the like, having the interstices between the same filled with a high explosive may also be provided so that as a result of the explosion, destructive fragments or bodies are disseminated or spread in all directions with the efiect that the desired destruction is produced in regard both to life and buildings or erections. I In order that the said invention may be clearly understood. and readily carried into effect T will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which I Figure 1 represents a view in longitudinal section of a form of the improved bomb adapted for operation by rebound after striking the ground, object or target; and Fig. 2 is a view of the tail of the bomb showing a parachute applied thereto.

lfhe bomb comprises a main casing c which may be provided with circumferential and longitudinal grooves or depressions so as to insure the casing or shell breaking into fragments when the bomb is exploded. The shell or casing is provided with an internal hollow member a which extends beyond the casing or shell to-form a tail piece a The tubular extension or tailpiece a containsthe auxiliary or detonating charge a". The casingor shell aflis provided at its forward end with a chamber f containing a charge of black powder or similar explosive. The forward end of the bomb is provided with a firing in 0 which is held in the inoperative position by means of a shearing pin f so that when the bomb is liberated from the framing b of the aeroplane or flying machine by withdrawin the bolt 6 incidental to' the deflection o the lover I) the pendent arms or members f f admit of the release of the bomb; the firing pin 0 and the detonating charge a being thereupon rendered free to assume their position for firing and exploding their respective charges. The bolt 6 works through saddle pieces b 0n the framing b and is adapted toengage with lugs 6 carried by the shell or casing a of'the bomb. When the-bomb strikes the ground, object or target the pin f which secures the firing pin 0 will be sheared and the firing pin will strike the detonator c causing the ignition of a fuse mixture contained in the passage 0*. This passage communicates with a chamber f through the openings f, which are arranged transversely of the passage 0 and serve to place the latter in communication with the chamber f containing black powder. This chamber f is placed in communication with another chamber f containing the main charge of black powder by Way of the openings f. The openlngs f are formed in the walls of the chamber f and are consequently arranged around the firing pin 0 The ignition of the black powder Wlll cause the bomb to be blown or raised a distance from or above the ground, object or target, dependent. on the strength thereof, and the fuse mixture in the passage 0 is so arranged that it is adapted to reach and fire the auxiliary or detonating charge after this movement is effected.

The bomb may be secured to the flying machine or the like by the device hereinbefore described and the detonating charge a andthe firing pin 0 may be retained in the inoperative position by the arms or members f depending from the framing b of the machine. Suitable vanes or blades f are disposed at the tail of the bomb and serve to direct the bomb in its movement. These blades may, however, be replaced by a suitable parachute arrangement 03, Fig. 2, whereof the members d are adapted, upon the release of the bomb, to extend in a man ner similar to an umbrella so as to constitute the parachute. The members (1' of the parachute are pivoted at d to the tail piece (.4 of the bomb'and are provided with projections d which, when the parachute is closed, are adapted to enter the openings 03 in the tail piece a and retain the detonat- -ing charge a" in the inoperative position.

It willbe seen that the bomb comprises a main charge of-high explosive adapted for being fired or exploded b means of an auxiliary charge a capable o passing from the rear to the fore end of the apparatus and that thefiring is dependent upon the initial impact of the bomb causing the ingi tion or explosion of a predetermined charge of black powder or similar explosive, whereby the bomb is caused to rebound; the explosion of the detonating and main charges taking lace while the bomb is elevated or situ'atec at a predetermined distance above or from the ground, object or target. What I claim and desire to secure by Lettors Patent of the United States is:

1. In a bomb for use with aeroplanes or flying machines, the combination of a main charge of high explosive, a detonating charge, and a charge of black powder which is fired by the initial impact of the bomb so as to cause the detonating and main charges to be exploded at a predetermined distance above or from the ground, object or target. i

2. In a bomb for use with aeroplanes or flying machines, the combination of a main charge of high explosive, a detonat-ing charge capable of moving relatively to the main charge, a parachute for retarding the motion of the' bomb during its descent and a charge of black powder which is fired by the initial impact of the bomb so as to cause the same to rebound and the detonating and main charges to be exploded at a predetermined distance above or from the ground, object or target.

3. In a'bomb for use withaeroplanes or flying machines the combination of a main charge of high explosive, a detonating charge capable of moving relatively to the main charge, a parachutewhich becomes operative when the bomb is released and which is adapted to retain the detonating charge in the inoperative position until such release is effected, and a charge of black powder which is fired by the initial impact of the bombs'o as to cause the same to rebound and the detonatin and main charges to be exploded at a predetermined distance above or from the ground, object or target.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM.

Witnesses:

WM. MELLARK J lioxson, F. SELLY WARDLE. 

